Folding sample-case



(No Model) H. BRAEN. FOLDING SAMPLE CASE.

' No. 574.130. Patented Dec. 29, 1896.

INVENTOB im Fw WITNESSES:

BY X2? ATT'Y'S.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY BEAEN, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.

FOLDING SAMPLE-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,130, dated December29, 1896. Application filed August 10, 1896. Serial No. 602,255. (Nomodel.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY BRAEN, a citizen of the United States,residing in Paterson, county of Passaic, and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Sample-Cases;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a folding sample case or boxespecially adapted for the use of salesmen, which can be quickly openedand closed, and when closed will occupy very little space and can beconveniently carried around.

A further object is to arrange the folding sample case or box in such amanner that when fully opened each and every section will be completelyexposed to view.

The invention consists in the improved folding case combining a seriesof separate but connected trays or compartments, in the means forconnecting and supporting said compartments, and in the combination andarrangement of the various parts thereof, substantially as will behereinafter more fully described, and finally embodied in the clauses ofthe claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation ofmy improved folding sample-case, a portion of the cover being brokenaway to better illustrate the arrangement of parts when in closedposition; Fig. 2, a front elevation of the folding case, the coverhaving been removed and the lefthand series of compartments opened; andFig. 3, a top plan view of Fig. 2.

111 said drawings, a represents a base on which is arranged therectangular compartment 1), supporting, in a manner hereinafterdescribed, two series of compartm cuts or trays 0 cl 6 f and 0 cl 6 f,respectively, the height of each compartment being equal to the heightof the compartment b,while its area is equal to one-half of the area ofthe latter, I). The compartments of each series are pivotall y connectedbetween each other and with the compartment 1) and on each side thereofby a series of parallel links or arms g, h, 7;, 7e, and m. Theintermediate arms h, i, and it of one series of compartments, say theleft series, are fulcrumed at the centers of the sides and near thebottoms of their respective compartments, as at k 2 and k and arepivotally connected with their upper ends to the right-hand lowercorners of their next preceding, and with their lower en ds to theleft-hand corners of their next succeeding, compartment, as clearlyshown at h2 k and h, t", and k, respectively. The arm 9 is pivotallyconnected at its upper end,as at 9 to the lower right-hand corner ofcompartment 0, andwith its lower end, as at g, to the compartment b. Theend compartment f is also connected with the next succeeding one, e, bythe arm m, fulcrumed, as at m to the center of the side of the bottom ofcompartment f and, as at m, to the lower left-hand corner of compartment6. To the ends of the central arm 2', and on each side of its respectivecompartment, are arranged the free ends of the wire 1 bent into anangular shape and adapted to support the said compartments when openedand to bear against the sides thereof when closed, as clearly shown inthe drawings. The

compartments of the right-hand series are connected with each other andwith the compartment b in precisely the same manner as the compartmentsof the left-hand series, ex cept that their respective arms are arrangedsymmetrically with the arms of the other series.

When the compartments are closed, they are or may be inclosed in thecover a having the handle a and the hooks a the latter adapted to engagethe eyes or loops a ar ranged on the base a, as will be manifest.

When the cover is removed, each series of compartments can be quicklyopened by being moved outward from the center and are readily supportedin that position by the angular wire legs '5.

I do not intend to limit myself to the pre= cise construction shown anddescribed, as various alterations can be made without changing the scopeof my invention; but

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isa 1. Afolding case consisting of a base-com partment, series of separatecompartments of uniform sizebut of half the area of thebasecompartment-arranged on said base-compartment and on each side ofthe center thereof and pivotally connected therewith, and means forpivotally connecting the separate compartments of each series,substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. A folding case consisting of a base-compartment, and of two series ofseparate compartments arranged on said base-compartment, a series ofparallel arms pivotally connecting the separate compartments of eachseries, and arms pivotally connecting the lowermost compartments of eachseries with the said base-compartment, substantially as and for thepurposes described.

3. A folding case consisting of a base-compartment, a series of separatecompartments arranged one above the other and on said base-compartment,a series of parallel arms on each side of, and pivot-ally connecting thesaid separate compartments, arms pivotally connecting the lowermostcompartment of said series with the said base-compartment, and a leg oneach side of the separate compartment-s and arranged on one of theparallel arms, all said parts, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

4. A folding case consisting of a base-compartment, and of two series ofseparate compartments arranged on said base-compartment and pivotallyconnected therewith and between each other, and a cover arranged oversaid separate compartments and the basecompartment and removablyconnected therewith, all said parts, substantially as and for thepurposes described.

5. A folding case consisting of a base-compartment, a series of separatecompartments arranged one above the other and on said base-compartmentand pivotally connected therewith, a series of parallel arms pivotallyconnecting said separate compartments, a leg on each side of saidseparate compartments and arranged on one of said arms, and a cover onall of said compartments and removably connected with the basecompartment, all said parts, substantially" as and for the purposesdescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I havehereunto set my hand this3d day of August, 1896.

HENRY BRAEN.

XV itnesses:

WM. D. BELL, DUNCAN M. ROBERTSON.

